Where are you located? Are you intending for your plumerias to grow and bloom over winter, or just survive in a more dormant state?

Hi Dave, I am in South Central PA. Yes I would love them to grow, thrive and possibly bloom in winter. Thanks, Terri

Jedoba, Holy smokes, your electric bill must have been out of this world. I think I will keep them on 14 hours and see what happens. But thanks to you I know I have the option of raising it. I would have thought the plumerias need some down time to rest from the energy spent in growing. Interesting.

The electric bill doesn't get too high with florescent or LED'S. Both options are cost efficient. Also, I agree. I would have thought that everything needed daily rest, but I proved my own theory wrong on that one. Under my LED'S, they go super dark green, and flower like crazy. They seem happier indoors that I can ever manage outdoors.

I am happy to announce that the plumeria started blooming this AM. I will post pics. Now I hope Marengo is fragrant! What kind of LEDs did/do you use?

So happy for you!

I use a 12"X12" GlowPanel 45. I actually have two, and they are great!

In what ways are they better than T-5s?

Grow light LED'S create certain wavelengths or colors of light that scientists have determined plants use. There are some lights that do vegetative growth, while others are for flowering. Most panels have both wavelengths in the panel, and some are all on all the time, while others have a switch to turn off one of these.

There are certainly a zillion kinds of lights and everyone has a fav. These T-5s are 6400 so I guess I will just see. It would be interesting to know if, on plumerias, anyone notices any difference between the T-5s and Glow Panels.

I could just run out and get every new thing that comes along. But I have to remind myself of the many a successful cattleya growers I know who still use standard T-12 fluorescents + a $12 plant light (red wave length). Lol! Hopeful, my T-5s will do the job. I sure do have enough of them.

I would attempt to replicate the amount of sunlight typical during the winter months in low latitudes. Maybe 12 hours right now and decreasing to 11 by January.

Is anyone actually growing plumerias under T-5 lights? Or tried and failed under T-5s?

I did...and had some success. The plumerias stayed green and if they had in flos bloomed nicely...but this year I will be letting 90 percent go dormant. The newly rooted or seedlings will go on a heat mat and under the oight to keep them warm. I suffered major issues with spidermites and such...at little too much trouble for me given my schedule.... but definitely worth a try.

If I was starting over today I would do a heat mat and led loghting. T5 worked good for me but can get expensive to run when running three...four lamp fixtures and three heat mats.

I have 10 T5 4 lamp fixtures running 14 hours a day. Am I going to be shocked at the electric bill?

I forgot to mention the T5 lights are 24" not 48.